The Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) network spans 38 countries across six continents, representing over 62 million people. Through the fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies and United Cities and Local Governments have given financial support to more than 1,000 climate projects and engaged more than 100,000 young people who are working for a healthier future.
New funding announced for 2026
For the third time, the municipality has received funding through YCAF. This is the first time that we were the only Canadian city to receive the funding.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is partnering with the Halifax Climate Investment Innovation and Impact Fund (HCi3) to give teams of young innovators grants as high as $5,000 USD.
The grants will be used to help teams realize their climate projects and initiatives. To qualify, groups must be doing work in one of these six key areas of climate action:
- Food
- Nature and conservation
- Sustainable energy and transportation
- Climate justice
- Circular economy
- Adapting and preparation (climate resiliency)
Apply at hci3.ca/ycaf.
Applications must be submitted by September 21, 2026.
Youth leadership in climate action documentary
The HalifACT team is excited to share a short documentary about the recent history of the Youth Climate Action Fund in the region. Please view the entire film below.
Frequently asked YCAF questions
- young people in the region aged 15 to 24 who participate in youth-led organizations like clubs or community groups
- youth-serving organizations (adult-led organizations supporting young people)
- sponsor organizations, such as schools or other educational institutions, museums, or community organizations
Any organization or group led by adults and provides programs and resources designed to meet the needs of young people. Some common characteristics of a youth-serving organization include:
- it is legally registered provincially or federally
- it is guided by charitable goals
- for-profit or private companies
- political and/or party-affiliated organizations
- independent individuals
An organization with a bank account that can receive and manage funds on behalf of a youth team. A fiscal sponsor can manage up to three microgrants for three different projects. Even if the organization does not have a clear mandate for serving youth, it can still act as a fiscal sponsor. Examples include:
- libraries
- museums
- schools and other educational institutions
- community organizations
- religious organizations
- other recognized organizations or associations that can manage grant funding.
Please note: organizations must have a bank account registered under the organization’s name, rather than the name of an individual.
Funds can be used for:
- project supplies and materials, including rental and purchase of items directly needed to carry out the project (e.g., equipment, tools, art supplies, or technology)
- costs for organizing community events, workshops, or educational sessions, including venue rental, printing of materials for participants, and basic refreshments
- costs for any necessary permits to implement the project in accordance with local regulations
- reasonable ground travel expenses for youth participants or team members directly involved in project implementation (such as public transit, ride shares, or taxis)
- promotional materials to raise awareness about the project and encourage engagement; production costs for sharing project results (e.g., photography, editorial support, and videography)
- reasonable fees for training and mentorship offered in workshops with youth participants
- project sponsorship costs that local NGOs, civic groups, neighbourhood clubs, schools or other organizations may charge for receiving a microgrant on behalf of youth project leads (note: this cost should be no more than 15% of the microgrant value.)
- small amounts to enable youth participation such as per diems for food or gift cards if these expenses are reasonable in proportion to the activities. In no event may these expenses make up the majority (more than 50%) of the microgrant.
- capital investments (funds dedicated to the purchase or upgrade physical assets, such as equipment or machinery) when they do not exceed 50% of the microgrant and are an essential part of the project suggested and led by youth
Funds cannot be used for:
- services/expenses covered by existing city initiatives
- rent or utilities
- nonprofit/NGO incorporation fees
- speaker honorariums and speaker fees
- scholarships
- direct support to individuals or families
- partisan political contributions or expenses
- expenses related to political campaigns, fundraisers, or projects
- expenses related to lobbying (attempting to influence legislation) or voter registration
- expenses related to commercial activities
- capital campaigns, endowments, or endowed chairs
- payments to government officials
- events or fundraisers not related to youth climate action
- regranting or sub-granting to other organizations or individuals
- activities that do not comply with Halifax Regional Municipality regulations or by-laws
Your team's YCAF project must be completed and all of your funding spent by April 1, 2027.
The categories for this year's HalifACT YCAF contest are:
- Food
- Adapt & Prepare
- Nature & Conservation
- Sustainable Energy
- Transportation
- Climate Justice
- Circular Economy
Tree planting, youth-focused climate education, community gardens, arts-based awareness, waste reduction initiatives, youth community science projects and youth climate cafes.
Applications must be submitted, using the online form at hci3.ca/ycaf, by Monday, September 21, 2026.
Applications are reviewed by a grant review committee and scored using selection criteria that include youth leadership, connection to HalifACT, feasibility of the project and impact on the community. All applicants will be notified about the status of their application in October 2026.
No, each grant must be allocated to a different project, with the maximum amount of $5000 USD.
Yes, more than one microgrant may be awarded to the same grantee organization. However, each grant must be for a separate and different project. One organization can host up to three grants for different projects.
YCAF round one
In April 2024, the municipality was one of 100 cities that received $50,000 USD ($66,000 CAD) from Bloomberg Philanthropies and United Cities and Local Governments as part of the new YCAF program, which hopes to encourage the participation of young people in municipal climate action. On September 16, 2024, Mayor Mike Savage presented the recipients of YCAF funding with small grants of up to $5,000 USD ($6,600 CAD).
Spotlight: DalSol
The Dalhousie Solar Car Team (DalSol) is a student-led group dedicated to designing a 100% solar-powered electric vehicle (EV). They were the first team from Atlantic Canada to race at the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) in 2023, and followed it up with another race in 2024. The team is planning to return to FSGP in 2026.
DalSol's goal is to give students practical experience with problem solving and green transportation, and to spur innovation in renewable energy and EV technology.
Spotlight: Hope Blooms
For almost two decades, Hope Blooms has been encouraging community involvement in local food production. Over the years, the Hope Blooms Campus has added a community farmers market, an after-school leadership program for youth and the Green Labs mentorship program. This organization used YCAF funding to commission a large community mural by young residents and a local graffiti artist. The mural they created together depicts a scene of new growth and dedication to caring for the planet.
Other winning YCAF projects
- Caring for the Barrens, community capacity building
- DalSol (Dalhousie University), Solar-Powered Electric Race Vehicle open house
- Girl Child Art Foundation + Banye Art, My Climate and Art: A Climate Justice Art Exhibition
- Hope Blooms, community climate action mural
- Level: Changing Lives Through Law, Environmental Justice Program
- Oakhill Outdoor, Oakhill biomass project
- ONE North End, low carbon African Nova Scotian community ideas mobilization
- Preston Area Food Network, Growing Resilience: Youth Empowerment Through Sustainable Gardening
- Rotaract Club of Halifax, Seeds of Tomorrow
- Shambhala School, Turning the (Green) Tide: Investigating the Applications of Algal Climate Relief
- Woodlawn High School’s Oceans Club and the Canadian Wildlife Federation, From Land to Sea
YCAF round two
Following a successful first round, the municipality and HCi3 were awarded an additional $140,000 CAD to support even more youth-led climate initiatives across the region.
With the second round of applications, we received a range of creative proposals from local youth. There are so many ways that youth in the municipality are stepping up to the challenge, from community gardening projects to new ways of using technology.
YCAF round two winners
Aruna Revolution | Period Equity Alliance Society: Youth-Led Climate Action for Sustainable Menstruation
Banye Art | My Climate and Art: A training workshop for young artists
BLM in this Together | Emerge - Environmental Catalysts Emerging Above the Underpinning
Dalhousie Outdoors Society | Land Stewardship training
The Deanery Project | CycleScapes: Art, Advocacy, & the Road Ahead on the Eastern Shore
Ecology Action Centre | EAC Teens
Enactus | Food Desert/Marginalized Communities Initiative
Friends for the Future | Environmental Education and Sustainable Solutions: A Youth-Based Workshop Series
Garden Goobers (Marine Drive School) | The Fresh Ingredient
Hope Blooms | Science Fair
Hydrostone Academy | Turning the (Green) Tide: Micro and Macroalgae as Sources of Renewable Energy
Loaded Ladle | Beet Street Market
MacPhee Centre | Power up - Sustainable urban garden for art and community
NSCC Green AI Innovators | SmartBin AI: Waste Classification System
Oakhill Outdoor | Fairview Elementary School Pollinator Classroom Project
Rotaract Club of Halifax | Our Garden, Our Gallery
Square Roots | Square Roots North End
Welcoming Intercultural Newcomers Association | Decade to Destiny: Voices of African International Students on Climate and Culture
Women in STEM | Reimagine, Repurpose, Restore
Celebrating youth-led climate action on HalifACT.ca
Read more about YCAF on HalifACT.ca